Mongolia: Traditional Music

UNESCO has identified two elements of traditional Mongolian music as being “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” They are the urtyn duu, or long song, and the morin-khuur, or horse violin, and both are featured here.
The morin-khuur is a two-stringed instrument with a carved horse head on the end of the tuning head. It is played like a cello by men for dance and to accompany singers, particularly for the urtyn duu, or long song. The long song is so named for the singing of each lyric syllable for long durations in single musical notes.
In addition to providing examples of urtyn duu and the playing of the morin-khuur, this recording offers examples of other forms of Mongolian traditional music including bongino duu (short songs) and music played on metal and bamboo Jew’s harps, flutes, vieles (violins), lutes, and zithers. Two tracks feature an example of diphonic song or khoomly, sometimes referred to as throat singing.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Please enjoy a free download of the song “My Darling”
My Darling | MP3 | FLAC |
This album is part of the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music. More than 125 albums are being released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to make the series publicly available, including a dozen never-released albums of musical traditions from around the globe.
Track Listing
101
|
My speckled bay | Darsüren | 2:20 | |
102
|
Two little ducks | Danzan | 5:40 | |
103
|
Horse with light-grey coat | Darsüren | 2:58 | |
104
|
The beautiful Altaï | Möntöö | 2:52 | |
105
|
View over the Kherelen River | Batbayar | 2:58 | |
106
|
The four seasons | Batbayar | 2:51 | |
107
|
Popular dance of western Mongolia | Batbayar | 2:23 | |
108
|
Dance tune of western Mongolia | G. Nomyer | 2:11 | |
109
|
The black stallion Zhonon of the Khalka Mongols | D. Zhantsanchoy | 2:22 | |
110
|
The brown silk dress | Dashdory | 2:12 | |
111
|
Movements of a blessing | Dashdory | 1:53 | |
112
|
Linked movements | Tsembel | 0:56 | |
113
|
Colours side by side | Tsembel | 1:03 | |
114
|
Beckoning movements | Tsembel | 1:00 | |
115
|
Wave-like dance | Tsembel | 0:52 | |
116
|
Quick, short movements | Tsembel | 0:57 | |
117
|
Sunzhidmaa | Tsendbayar, Sosorbaram | 2:33 | |
118
|
Saddle flaps of Saykhiyu leather | Tseyenkhorloo, Sosorbaram | 1:27 | |
119
|
These shimmering blue mountains | P. Dolzhinkhüü, L. Oyunchimeg | 1:42 | |
120
|
My Darling | C. Amartungalag, S. Narantuya, Z. Badambarav | 1:54 | |
121
|
Song of praise to the horse | D. Purevsuren | 2:47 | |
122
|
Dembee (finger game) | Galragchaa, Batmönkh, Bolormaa | 4:38 | |
123
|
Tömör khuur metal jew's harp | G. Dovchinsuren and his four children | 1:26 | |
124
|
Khulsan khuur bamboo jew's harp | G. Dovchinsuren | 1:26 | |
125
|
Limbe transverse flute | Enkhtayvan | 2:50 | |
126
|
Dörvön chikhtey khuur four-stringed viele | L. Baldan | 2:24 | |
127
|
Shanza lute | A. Oyuntsimeg | 1:18 | |
128
|
Yatga oblong table zither | A. Tsolmaa | 2:25 | |
129
|
The khöömiy lesson | Sundui | 2:48 | |
130
|
The 4-year-old light tan horse | Sundui | 1:46 |